For this sketch I used graphite dust from and HB pencil and then applied with blending stumps to get the effect of the unresolved stars and general shape of the globular. I defocused the scope slightly at this point to try to capture the overall shape. I used 2H and 4H pencils to stipple the barely resolved stars. HB pencil for the brighter field stars and some of these are not as point like as I would have liked ( I've really just begun to sketch deep sky objects, did lunar sketches only ). I scanned the sketch and reversed it. Used Picasa to darken the background and honestly I can't account for the color difference from top to bottom. My eye certainly did not see this, and I wasn't too happy with it.

Really and truly first time sketching a globular. I had only done lunar ( many of these ) sketching. I used the tutorials that were posted here that I've saved. And oh do I have a hard time with using a dim red light. With lunar sketching I could almost use a reading lamp!Randolph

Randolph, your sketch looks like one of my first images. I am not kidding (well, I am kidding a little) - same artifacts on the stars and even the atmospheric dispersion...LOL. Love the 3D affect. Well done.

Randolph, I'm seriously impressed by this drawing. In fact, I think it's a good thing that you didn't correct the stars but left the original pencil marks, which are never 100% circular. This way the drawing actually looks a lot more realistic, as if seeing and high mag impaired the observation a bit. Very, very good!

Thank you all for your encouraging comments! I am immensely pleased that I've found this site and the beautiful work that other like minded observers have shared. The tutorials posted here have been very helpful indeed. Thanks for that as well!Randolph